Pallet lift

Abstract

A pallet lift includes a base and a plurality of wheels supporting the base. A pair of contact surfaces are proximate a distal end of the base. A handle projects upward proximate a proximal end of the base. A rear support surface support is on the base between the contact surfaces and the handle. The base may include a pair of spaced apart rails capable of receiving columns of a pallet therebetween. In one embodiment, the base includes a pair of four-bar linkages and the handle is a lift handle configured to selectively collapse and extend the four-bar linkages to raise and lower a pallet.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A combination of a pallet and a pallet lift comprising:
 the pallet lift including a base having a rear structure, a plurality of rear wheels supporting the rear structure, wherein the base includes a pair of four-bar linkages, wherein each of the four-bar linkages includes a lift rail opposite a side rail, each of the lift rails connected to the corresponding side rail by a pair of vertical supports to form a quadrilateral four bar linkage; 
 the pallet lift further including a plurality of wheels secured to the side rails, wherein the plurality of wheels and the side rails are fixed relative to one another within the four bar linkage, and wherein the vertical supports pivot relative to the side rails and relative to the plurality of wheels, and wherein the lift rails are movable relative to the side rails and relative to the plurality of wheels; 
 the pallet lift further including a pair of contact surfaces proximate a distal end of the base, the contact surfaces fixed relative to the lift rails within the four bar linkage; 
 the pallet lift further including a handle connected to the rear structure of the base distal of the plurality of rear wheels and projecting upward from the side rails proximate a proximal end of the base, the pallet lift further including a rear support surface supported on the base between the contact surfaces and the handle; and 
 the pallet having a plurality of columns supporting a deck, the plurality of columns received between the lift rails and between the side rails, wherein the pallet lift is capable of lifting the pallet off of a floor by rotating the handle relative to the floor. 
 
     
     
       2. The combination of  claim 1  wherein the pair of contact surfaces are formed on cradles spaced above the base. 
     
     
       3. The combination of  claim 1  wherein the handle is a lift handle configured to selectively collapse and extend the four-bar linkages to raise and lower the pallet. 
     
     
       4. The pallet lift of  claim 3  wherein the lift handle extends upward from the lift rails. 
     
     
       5. The combination of  claim 1  wherein the handle is pivotable relative to the side rails. 
     
     
       6. The combination of  claim 5  wherein the deck is supported directly on the pair of contact surfaces. 
     
     
       7. The combination of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of columns includes a pair of proximal columns, a pair of center columns and a pair of distal columns, wherein the deck of the pallet is supported on the lift rails, wherein the lift rails extend to a distal end between the pair of center columns and the pair of distal columns. 
     
     
       8. A method for lifting a pallet having a plurality of columns supporting a deck, the columns spaced inward from a peripheral edge of the deck, the method including the steps of:
 a) moving a lever of a pallet lift in a first direction relative to the pallet to pivot a four-bar linkage including a pair of side rails, a lift rail, and a pair of supports connecting one of the side rails to the lift rail, further including the step of moving the lever in the first direction to lower a plurality of contact surfaces relative to the side rails; 
 b) inserting an end of each of the side rails below the deck and outward of the columns of the pallet, such that the columns are between the side rails, after said step a); 
 c) after said step b), moving the lever in a second direction relative to the pallet to cause the contact surfaces to engage the deck of the pallet outward of the columns and to lift the pallet, 
 wherein said steps a) and c) each include the step of operating the four-bar linkage supporting the contact surfaces. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8  wherein the plurality of columns includes a pair of proximal columns, a pair of center columns and a pair of distal columns, wherein step b) includes inserting the ends of the side rails below the deck until the ends of the side rails are aligned between the pair of center columns and the pair of distal columns, wherein step c) is performed while the ends of the side rails are aligned between the pair of center columns and the pair of distal columns. 
     
     
       10. A combination of a pallet and a pallet lift
 the pallet lift including a base, wherein the base includes a pair of four-bar linkages, wherein each of the four-bar linkages includes a lift rail opposite a side rail, each of the lift rails connected to the corresponding side rail by a pair of vertical supports to form a quadrilateral four bar linkage, a plurality of side wheels secured to the side rails, wherein the plurality of side wheels and the side rails are fixed relative to one another within the four bar linkage, and wherein the vertical supports pivot relative to the side rails and relative to the plurality of side wheels, and wherein the lift rails are movable relative to the side rails and relative to the plurality of side wheels; 
 the pallet lift further including a pair of contact surfaces proximate a distal end of the base, the contact surfaces fixed relative to the lift rails within the four bar linkage, the contact surfaces each including an outer wall projecting upward from an outer edge thereof; 
 the pallet lift further including a handle projecting upward from the side rails proximate a proximal end of the base, a rear support bracket on the base connecting proximal portions of the lift rails to one another, the rear support bracket having a rear portion extending vertically from a rear edge and side portions extending vertically from side edges; and 
 the pallet having a plurality of columns supporting a deck, the plurality of columns received between the lift rails, wherein the pallet lift is capable of lifting the pallet off of a floor. 
 
     
     
       11. The combination of  claim 10  wherein the deck of the pallet is received between the side portions of the rear support bracket and between the outer walls of the contact surfaces. 
     
     
       12. The combination of  claim 10  further including a plurality of rear wheels supporting the base, wherein the handle is pivotably connected to the base distal of the plurality of rear wheels. 
     
     
       13. The combination of  claim 12  wherein the plurality of columns includes a pair of proximal columns, a pair of center columns and a pair of distal columns, wherein the deck of the pallet is supported on the lift rails, wherein the lift rails each extend to a distal end aligned between the pair of center columns and the pair of distal columns.